Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Eaton of Littleton passed away May 30. She lived in one of old Littleton’s historic homes with her husband, John Gerkin, and was active in — and past president of — the Historic Littleton Inc. organization, in which she and Gerkin initiated the group’s popular Scavenger Hunt events in the downtown area.
Eaton was born in Boulder in 1948 and lived in Washington, D.C., where she began ongoing political activity and heard Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
In Colorado, Eaton started The Focal Point interior design business, contributing to numerous hotels and condominiums in the Colorado mountain ski areas. She had three sons — John Brownlee Rigg III, Eaton James Rigg and Michael Torian Rigg — and marriage to John Gerkin brought two daughters into her life, Erin Gerkin Krause and Hayley Pike Gerkman. Liz and John welcomed 12 grandchildren into their lives and their home.
Eaton participated actively in the Downtown Littleton Merchants Association. She also was a woman of deep faith. Private services were held by the family and a larger celebration of her life will be held at a later date when it becomes possible. Donations in her name may be sent to: St. Francis Center, 2323 Curtis St., Denver, CO 80205; www.sfcdenver.org/donate.